Local News

Lana Schamberger visited Germany, Greece

Kids hear about agriculture in other nations

By Dan Barker

Times News Editor

Posted:
01/22/2014 10:25:39 AM MST

Lana Schamberger of Fort Morgan talked to third-grade students at Columbine Elementary School about her trips to Germany and Greece through the International 4-H Youth Exchange program Tuesday. (Dan Barker / Fort Morgan Times)

Third-grade students at Columbine Elementary School enjoyed hearing about a trip to Germany and Greece that Lana Schamberger of Fort Morgan made through the International 4-H Youth Exchange program. (Dan Barker / Fort Morgan Times)

Kids in Morgan County schools and adults in the evening had a chance to hear about the International 4-H Youth Exchange trip Lana Schambeger of Fort Morgan made to Germany and Greece during presentations on Tuesday.

At Columbine Elementary School in Fort Morgan, Schamberger told kids such trips are among the benefits of the 4-H program. She made her trip last summer, and part of the agreement with IFYE was to talk to people about her experiences.

Schamberger graduated from Regis University with a degree in biology with an emphasis on genetics and molecular biology.

She said she had always wanted to travel, and this was one way to have that happen.

Lana Schamberger of Fort Morgan showed Columbine Elementary School students slides of her trip to Europe, including this one about a Greek festival. (Dan Barker / Fort Moran Times)

A 10-year member of 4-H, she was eligible to make the trips that allow people from different nations to stay with agricultural families, see their farm operations and tour the countries, Schamberger said.

She showed the Columbine students slides of her trip, including one of a German garden.

"Germans love their gardens," Schamberger said. Many grow their own vegetables for their tables.

She visited the northern part of Germany, staying with three families there. One family had a dairy with 130 cows, plus 100 pigs.

During her time with them, she had the chance to help set up the family's booth at a flea market, dance at a disco, go shopping and attend a barbecue with other farmers, she said.

Her second family had 500 pigs and a schnapps distillery, and had a chance to tour a turkey farm, Schamberger said.

The third German family had a vineyard and made wine, she said.

She had a chance to tour a number of castles. The word for castle is "schloss" in German, Schamberger told the students.

She also had a chance to explore the city of Frankfurt.

The first place she visited in Greece was the city of Thessaloniki, where she worked at the American Farm School, Schamberger said.

Lana Schamberger of Fort Morgan showed Columbine Elementary School students slides of her trip to Europe, including this one showing a pig and schnapps operation in Germany. (Dan Barker / Fort Morgan Times)

Students at that school learn about farming and cooking on top of all their regular classes in reading, math, writing, etc ..., she said.

Schamberger taught an American culture class, where she told students about things like the 50 states, traditional American holidays and the school system.

She helped preserve snails for fancy dining. The school had its own snail farm.

As part of the cooking club, Schamberger helped make real Greek food such as a kind of spinach pie, a cheese pie and Greek pizza, she said. Greek pizza does not have tomato sauce, she noted.

While she was there, the school hosted the Paniyiri festival.

Schamberger showed the students a video she made of some of the Greek dancers at the festival.

Their movements are slow and precise, she said.

Schamberger also made her presentation at Pioneer Elementary School, Trinity Lutheran School and Brush High School, as well as at the extension office.